Description

The CPC 800 GPS XLT is the most portable of Celestron's top-of-the-line fork-mounted astronomical telescopes and includes Celestron's premium StarBright XLT coatings. This telescope is at home as a superb visual instrument or, with optional wedge and CCD cameras, as a serious astrophotographer's tool.

Turn this scope to planets and see amazing detail on the surface of Jupiter; see Cassini's Division in the rings of Saturn, and resolve details on the surface of Mars. Even the distant Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are within your reach.

Although large in aperture, with its conveniently located carrying handles and an instrument weight of only 42 lb., this telescope is portable enough to setup in your backyard or take with you to your favorite dark sky location.

Celestron CPC Telescopes are available in three aperture size choices:

The CPC Series' internal GPS receiver automatically downloads the date and time from orbiting satellites and pinpoints its exact location on Earth. This eliminates the need for you to manually enter the date, time, longitude and latitude.

Celestron's Revolutionary SkyAlign

Once the CPC's internal GPS has established the telescope's position, aligning the telescope is as easy as 1-2-3! Simply locate and use hand control to manually point (slew) the telescope to three bright celestial objects. You do not need to know the names of the stars — you may even pick the moon or bright planets! Celestron's NexStar® software technology will model the night sky to determine the position of every star, planet and celestial object above the horizon. Once aligned, the remote hand control allows direct access to each of the celestial catalogs in its user-friendly database.

Celestial Object Database

The CPC database contains over 40,000 celestial objects including Messier objects, the Caldwell Catalog, as well as NGC Galaxies, nebulae and planets. User-definable filter limits make navigating through this expansive database quicker and easier. Filter Limits let you filter out objects that are outside of your local horizon (ie, if trees or mountains were in the way).

Identify feature tells you what you're looking at, but it can also be a very fun way to tour around the sky. Just point the telescope up somewhere and ask it to identify Messier objects (for instance) and it will show you the 5 nearest Messier objects to your position and let you GOTO them. You can keep doing this for different parts of the sky or for different object types -- it is a lot of fun.

There's also "Solar Sys Align" that lets you align on the sun or moon for daytime observing -- it is easy to use this to see planets or bright stars in the day.

Innovative Features

The new CPC Series telescopes, like our acclaimed Advanced Series and premium CGE Series telescopes feature meticulously matched and hand-figured optical systems that are manufactured in our facilities in Torrance, California. In addition, all CPC models are available with StarBright and StarBright XLT High Performance Optical Coatings.

With the introduction of the CPC Series, Celestron has “gone back to the drawing board” and re-designed, re-engineered, and re-invented a telescope family that provides superior quality, unsurpassed ease of use, and incomparable value. All CPC models ship standard with our NexRemote telescope control software.

8" diffraction limited Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope

Celestron's premium StarBright XLT coatings

Fully computerized dual fork arm altazimuth mount

Newly designed heavy-duty tripod makes attaching the telescope so easy you can do it in the dark; also features sturdy 2" steel legs and accessory tray

Ergonomic design - Comfortably lift and move the telescope from location to location

Star diagonal provides more comfortable viewing position when observing objects that are high in the sky

Convenient remote hand control holder - Allows you to view information hands-free while using the scope

SkyAlign allows you to align on any three bright celestial objects, making for a fast and easy alignment process

Flash upgradeable hand control software and motor control units for downloading product updates over the Internet

Permanent PEC

Auxiliary port for additional accessories such as an Autoguider

NexRemote telescope control software and rs-232 cable included for advanced control of your telescope via computer

Astrophotography with the Celestron CPC Telescopes

While astrophotography could not be summed up here in one paragraph, a very common question for the CPC telescopes is how to connect a camera to it. Astrophotography is a hobby of patience and lots of trial and error, and plenty of errors will be had once you get started. But the rewards of good images is well worth it.

About Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes

Celestron’s excellent Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes are compact and portable and represent the best all-purpose design for a wide variety of uses from terrestrial and deep sky viewing to astrophotography.

Catadioptrics use a combination of mirrors and lenses to "fold" (reflect) the light path and form an image. In a Schmidt-Cassegrain, the light enters through a thin aspheric Schmidt correcting lens. It then strikes the spherical primary mirror. It is reflected back up the tube and intercepted by a small secondary mirror which reflects the light out an opening in the rear of the instrument where the image is formed at the eyepiece.

Catadioptrics are the most popular and most modern type of telescope optical design and are marketed throughout the world in 3.5" and larger apertures. Catadioptric telescopes combine the practical advantages of lenses and mirrors while eliminating their disadvantages. They offer the clarity and contrast of refractors with the low aberration of reflectors. Catadioptrics have an average focal ratio of f/10, which is wide enough for all types of photography. They are also easier to maintain because all optical elements are solidly mounted and rigidly collimated. Catadioptric telescopes provide the best possible combination of light gathering power, long focal length, portability and affordability.

Schmidt-Cassegrain Advantages

Very versatile, best all-purpose telescope design

Combines the optical advantages of both lenses and mirrors while eliminating their disadvantages

Excellent optics and razor sharp images over a wide field

Excellent for deep sky observing and astrophotography as well as terrestrial viewing

Very good for lunar, planetary and binary star observing

Focal ratio generally around f/10, it also has the best near focus capability of any type of telescope

Closed tube design reduces image-degrading air currents

Extremely compact and portable

Easy to use, durable and virtually maintenance free

Large apertures at reasonable cost and less expensive than equivalent aperture refractors

More accessories available than with other types of telescopes

Schmidt-Cassegrain Disadvantages

More expensive than Newtonians of equal aperture

Slight light loss due to secondary mirror obstruction compared to refractors The Maksutov-Cassegrain is similar to the Schmidt-Cassegrain with essentially the same advantages and disadvantages. It uses a thick meniscus correcting lens with a strong curvature and a secondary mirror that is usually an aluminized spot on the corrector. The Maksutov secondary

Telescopes Series

User Level

Documentation

Product Guarantee

We stand behind all the products we sell, and your satisfaction is our top priority. If you're not satisfied with the quality of your purchase, simply send the item back to us in its original packaging within 30 days of its delivery.

Manufacturer Warranty

Celestron has a limited lifetime binocular and spotting scope warranty and all other products have a 2 year manufacturer's warranty covers against defects is provided. If you have specific questions about this product's warranty please contact Celestron's Customer Service department at 310-328-9560.

Return & Exchange Policy

At our site, returns are easy! You may return new, unused, and resalable items for a refund or exchange. Simply ensure that the item is returned in its original product packaging within 30 days of delivery.

Ask The Experts

Have questions about an item or need advice on selecting the right astronomy gear? Our team of telescope experts is here to help! Avid amateur astronomers themselves, they've tested products in the field and can provide personalized recommendations.

You can reach our Customer Support line at 1-800-303-5873. We're open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

After hours? Drop us an email at info@telescopesplus.com. We'll get back to you as soon as possible, usually within 1 business day.

Sign Up & Save

Sign up for our email list and receive
10% off
Your first purchase on TelescopesPlus.com

With the Tasco 402x60 Refractor Telescope and 1200x Microscope, you can let your kids familiarize themselves with outer space and inner space! This beginner refractor telescope and 1200x microscope set will open their eyes to the very large and distant objects in the heavens, as well as the very small and near objects that comprise the world we live in.

60mm telescope for astronomy and daytime use

The Tasco 60mm refractor telescope offers a user-friendly design and enough power to get acquainted with the night sky. A 2x Barlow lens, finderscope, and full-size tripod are included to help put stars and heavenly bodies in clear view. Since we also throw in a 35x land-viewing eyepiece, you'll still get plenty of use during daylight hours as you observe landscapes, nature, and more.

Beginner's microscope magnifies up to 1200x

The Tasco microscope boasts a magnification power of up to 1200x, so you can get an up-close-and-personal view of just about anything you can place on a slide. Speaking of slides, you'll get some of those along with slide covers, dyes, and other essentials in the included 19-piece accessory kit.

Encourage curiosity!

At such an attractive price point, this affordable telescope and microscope package is a sound investment for kids curious about biology, astronomy, or science in general. A terrific way to give children a head start, or for curious minds of any age!